Still a shot at the division....

This is a realistic possibility. But there is one thing that may be a stumbling block to a three-way tie. If the Bengals lose on Sunday, will they have anything to play for against the Ravens? They won't.

 

At this time last year, the Giants were looking just as bad and hopeless as the Steelers. Indeed, all you need to do is get in and get healthy. But I am not sure that Tomlin is as good at getting his team going as Coughlin is.

 

Yes they will. The Bengals will not be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to the Steelers this weekend. The Bengals can still make the playoffs, with a win vs the Ravens, if the Steelers lose to the Browns.

Here is a kicker.. The Steelers can still make the playoffs with an 8-8 record. The Bengals would have to lose both of their remaining games.

 

The Dolphins have to lose one too in that scenario (unless the Jets win their last 2....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Couldn't hold it in) - but thanks to all the other 8-loss teams that choked over the weekend....Even if the Bengals had nothing to play for, I believe they would pretty much give an all-out effort against the Ravens (as opposed to a team that has clinched the playoffs that would otherwise be more concerned about injuries and resting starters). That being said, I hope they don't move that Ravens/Bengals game in week 17 to the evening or late afternoon. By then, CERTAINLY the Bengals would know if they have playoffs on the line since our game would be at 1PM. The schedulers did that one year for Bengals/Jets making it the night game and by nightfall the Bengals had NOTHING to play for (they were already in the playoffs) and played JUST LIKE IT....Make those week 17 games go on at the same time! (It would also suck to be fan buying tickets for a game that mattered before the day started, but didn't matter by the time your team took the field).

Of course, we have that little week 16 thing to get past first....

 

If the Steelers want to ensure a playoff birth then...

"they need to start winning some games and they can no lose any more games..."